Monday, July 31, 2017

Unlikely Magic: A Cinderella Retelling (Girl Among Wolves #1) by Lena Mae Hill

 Kindle Edition, 264 pages
Published June 20th 2017 by Speak Now

Devastated by her father’s sudden death, Stella barely protests being shipped off to live in a secluded forest encampment with the mother she never knew. Upon arrival, things go from bad to downright creepy. Everyone in the cultish community stares at her like she’s a mutant, including the two sisters her father failed to mention in her fourteen years, and her mother promptly locks her in the attic. Her only companions are a mouse and fantasies of befriending her own sisters. 

Desperately lonely, Stella watches from the window as her family leaves for a night each month to attend mysterious “lunar meetings.” While they are gone to one of these meetings, Stella escapes the attic, only to discover why her mother has kept her locked up her since her arrival—the entire community is made up of werewolves. Intensely protective of their privacy, they would do anything to keep their secret from outsiders…outsiders like Stella. Once she knows their secret, she must fight for her freedom...and her life.

My Thoughts…

I am a fan of fairy tale retells which is what I thought I was getting with Unlikely Magic.    There were some similarities to Cinderella but it wasn’t exactly a retell.    There were a mother who wasn’t always nice, sisters who were different, the death of a father, and chores other than that there wasn’t much Cinderella like about the story.  

Yet, I could not put the book down.   I was pulled into the story, interested in the characters, and anxious for Stella to be okay.    The shape shifter part was wonderful.   I love a good shape shifter story and Unlikely Magic is just that.    It was also nice that there were numerous twists and turns within the story.    As I started to get a feel of where the story was heading Lena Mae Hill would throw something unexpected into the story I was would feel the need to read even more.  

If you are a fan of the paranormal I would recommend picking up your own copy.   

Thank you Heather Hildenbrand for the recommendation and Lena Mae Hill for a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Links
Goodreads   |   Amazon   







Friday, July 28, 2017

Edge of the Sawtooth (Rick Morrand Mysteries) by Peter J. Ryan

Kindle Edition, 389 pages
Published May 28th 2017 by Blackhawk Press

CHLOE MORRAND HAD TURNED HER LIFE AROUND. 
She’d been taking her meds. She’d kicked her drug abuse. And she loved her new job at Yellowstone National Park. Life was looking up... 

Her father, Rick Morrand—local attorney—is hopeful that Chloe is finally on the right track. But on the morning she fails to show up at his house to pick up her nine-year-old daughter, Abby, alarms ring in his head. 

His greatest fear becomes reality when Chloe’s body is found at the base of the Sawtooth in Montana’s rugged backcountry. Authorities assume suicide— for good reason. But Rick doesn’t buy it. 

For good reason. 

First, former law partner Reiff Metcalf arrives in town to warn Rick about a disgruntled client headed to Montana in search of revenge. Then there’s Draper Townsend, fresh out of prison and eager to settle an old score. Rick also sets his sights on Chloe’s meth-head ex-boyfriend, Chase Rettick, who violently argued with her the day before she disappeared. And he can’t rule out Chloe’s supervisor at Yellowstone, who clearly was more than just her boss. 

Local sheriff Caleb Tidwell brushes off Rick’s concerns, but as events unfold in a dark and menacing manner, Rick is certain Chloe was murdered. And it seems as if the murderer is now after him …. 

Set in the spectacular backdrop of rural Montana, Edge of the Sawtooth takes us on a gripping journey through the torment of mental illness and addiction, the trials of parenthood, and the anguish of broken relationships and personal loss.
Suspense abounds in this entertaining mystery, which is filled with engaging characters and unexpected twists. Clear your schedule when you read this thriller – once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down. 

My Thoughts…

Edge of the Sawtooth is am wonderful murder mystery.   I was pulled in by the time I finished the first page and couldn’t put the book down until I finished the last page.     The twists and turns kept me turning page after page needing to find out who killed Chloe. 

I found that I kept changing my mind as to who had killed Chloe, the clues were there, the path was followable but I just kept changing my mind.   I wanted to be wrong about whom I thought did it and I was wrong so many times.    By the end I had a good idea and am proud to say that I had figured it out.  

The twist of the protesters was interesting.   I could not figure out what that really had to do with a murder.   I kept wondering if it was just a distraction or if it would tie in somehow.    I liked that the news reporter had a tie to the small town that also provided an interesting twist.  

Peter J. Ryan wrote an amazing murder mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.   I loved every twist and turn.   I definitely recommend picking up your own copy. 

Thank you Penny C. Sansevieri at author Marketing Experts, Inc. for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  

Purchase Edge of Sawtooth....

Thursday, July 27, 2017

What She Ate by Laura Shapiro PROMO POST

A beloved culinary historian’s short takes on six famous women through the lens of food

WHAT SHE ATE
Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories
by
LAURA SHAPIRO

Recommended Summer Reading
by ELLE, Bon Appétit, and Eater.

“A unique and delectable work that sheds new light on the lives of women, food, and men. .”—Kirkus Reviews

“…six crisply written, ardently researched, and entertainingly revelatory portraits of very different women with complicated relationships with eating and cooking…. A bounteous and elegant feast for hungry minds.”BookList, Starred Review
“Establishes Laura Shapiro as the founder of a delectable new literary genre: the culinary biography.”—Megan Marshall, Pulitzer-prize winning biographer

“The idea that eating habits reveal aspects of character is ever-intriguing, and it’s presented here with charm and insight.”—Mimi Sheraton, former restaurant critic for the New York Times and author of 1000 Foods to Eat Before You Die
 
“Laura Shapiro has done it again! She’s given us a fascinating and wonderfully entertaining history of six women of the last two centuries you might never have thought of as foodies, yet here they are, distinguished by how differently they dealt with the overwhelming importance of food in their lives.”—Marion Nestle, author of Soda Politics


Food stories can be as intimate and revealing as stories of love, work, or coming-of-age. Yet most biographers pay little attention to food, as if these great and notable figures never daydreamed about what they wanted to have for dinner or worried about what to serve their guests. Once we consider how somebody relates to food, we find a host of different and provocative ways to understand them. Everyone eats, and food touches on every aspect of our lives—social and cultural, personal and political.

This summer, Viking will publish WHAT SHE ATE: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories (Viking; On-sale: July 25, 2017; $27.00; ISBN: 9780525427643) by James Beard Award-winning writer Laura Shapiro, a unique account of the lives of six women from a perspective often ignored by biographers. Each woman in this entertaining group portrait was famous in her time, but until now, no one has explored their lives from the view of the kitchen and the table.

Laura Shapiro examines a lively and surprising array of women and how the theme that unites them is a powerful relationship with food:

  • Dorothy Wordsworth, whose food story transforms our understanding of the life she led with her poet brother
  • Rosa Lewis, an Edwardian-era Cockney caterer who cooked her way up the social ladder and would fit right in on Downton Abbey
  • Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady notorious for serving the worst food in White House history
  • Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress who challenges our warm associations with food, family, and table, and whose last meal was famously a cyanide capsule
  • Barbara Pym, whose witty novels upend a host of stereotypes about postwar British cuisine
  • Helen Gurley Brown, the longstanding editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, whose commitment to ‘having it all’ meant having almost nothing to eat except a supersized portion of diet Jell-O

Accompanied by black and white photos, WHAT SHE ATE is a unique biography of women who continue to make their mark on present society. 

Purchase What She Ate at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Laura Shapiro has written on every food topic from champagne to Jell-O for The New York TimesThe New YorkerThe AtlanticSlateGourmet, and many other publications. She is the author of three classic books of culinary history. Her awards include a James Beard Journalism Award and one from the National Women’s Political Caucus. She has been a fellow at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library, where she also co-curated the widely acclaimed exhibition Lunch Hour NYC.

"O" Face by Heather Hildenbrand COVER REVEAL






I have a confession.
I’ve never had an orgasm.
Not for lack of trying. Hell, I even experimented once in college with a girlfriend, but nothing. Nada. Zilch.
I’m pretty sure I’m broken.
That is, until Liam Porter waltzes back into my life.

Cassie Franklin is untouchable. And she wears it well.
Heir to a fortune and heart of fucking stone—I’ve never, not once in the years I’ve known her—seen her smile.

Not that I’ve lost sleep over her while I’ve been rolling in the sheets with every other beautiful girl this town has to offer. Not to mention the women I had during my tour of duty. I’m not exactly pining. Still, Cassie’s always gotten under my skin—all that cool beauty set into a cold stare.

So when her best friend begs me to find out what Cassie’s hiding, I’m more than happy to comply. In fact, this is one covert takedown I’ll actually enjoy.

So why is it that the more I learn about the real Cassie Franklin, the more positive I am—there’s only one expression I want to see grace her features: Her O Face.

And I never back down from a challenge.

***


O Face by Heather Hildenbrand, a #MeetCute story
Coming 10/16/17
Pre-order exclusively on iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1233007167


O Face is part of the Meet Cute theme of books, a collection of contemporary romance novels by different authors with the same theme.
Boy meets girl. It’s the way romances usually begin . . . and while we all love a happy ending, it’s the #MeetCute that wins our hearts.
How did you two meet?
The #MeetCute Books each have a unique answer to that query. Some might make you swoon, others might make you giggle . . . and some may make you blush.
Twelve authors. Twelve stand-alone contemporary romance novels. Twelve stories that will make your heart beat a little faster.
Because it’s all about the #MeetCute.
Learn More about all the Meet Cute books here.




Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. (She's only slightly socially awkward as a result.) She writes paranormal and contemporary romance with plenty of abs and angst. Her most frequent hobbies are riding motorcycles and avoiding killer slugs.

You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com.



Wednesday, July 26, 2017

COVER REVEAL of Crave by E.K. Blair




Title: Crave: Part One
Series: Crave Duet #1
Author: E.K. Blair
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: E.K. Blair
Release Date: August 14, 2017


Blurb


Kason and Adaline.

From the moment they met, they started to fall. Neither of them predicted just how far the drop would be, though.

Loving Adaline was all Kason had ever wanted to do. But layer by layer, he started to unravel, forcing Adaline to face an addiction she never could’ve imagined.

This is what happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond the loving.








Pre-order Links









Author Bio


E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her dynamic and intense writing style. Noted for her ability to create fleshed-out characters that will evoke a realm of reactions, you can be assured that her stories will linger with you far beyond the last word.

A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.


Author Links

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Published February 9th 2017 by HQ


If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside―the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.

But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…

My Thoughts…

I will never claim to be a detective and solve crimes.    I am a reader that follows the clues the author lays out for me.  With that being said there were so many trails that I could follow and I followed each and every one of them.  With each twist and turn there was a new guess, that I was sure was absolutely correct, as to who had killed the woman in the car.     The not knowing would bother some readers, for me I love to follow the path and see where it ends without really knowing the ending ahead of time. 

B.A. Paris is amazing.    The talent shared while weaving a complex, twisted, and wonderful story is phenomenal.    The characters were twisted, complex, and real.   I kept thinking what kind of horrible person could be making Cass come unhinged…were they truly enjoying watching her lose her mind… I just couldn’t imagine what kind of person enjoys this. When the who-dun-it is told it all comes together and makes the twists and turns make sense in a twisted sort of way.   

The quick pace, the anticipation, and the twists and turns made this a cannot stop reading book for me.   I recommend picking up your own copy ASAP.


Thank you Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Links

Goodreads   |   Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The Alpha's Arrangement by Ryan Michele RELEASE BLITZ & GIVEAWAY

Title: The Alpha's Arrangement: A Howls Romance
Author: Ryan Michele
Genre: Shifter Romance
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Izzy needs a fresh start, and moving to the mountains of Montana is just what she was looking for. When she finds the perfect home, she can’t wait to begin her new life and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Little does she know that her home comes with a surprise.

Carter is known for getting exactly what he wants. When his mate shows up in his small town, the scent of her drives his instincts to claim her immediately. The problem is, she’s human and knows nothing about the shifter-wolves that live among her. Treading lightly isn’t his way, but he’ll do anything for his mate.
He has something up his sleeve to get her in his bed and in his life. Will Izzy resist? Or will she find out that, with the power of an Alpha, she’s unable to? 
**The Alpha's Arrangement is a hot new wolf shifter book sure to melt your kindle. Enjoy!!**

The Alpha’s Arrangement (A Paranormal Shifter Romance) Copyright © 2017 by Ryan Michele
Inhaling deeply, the crisp mountain air flows through my lungs, pure and refreshing. After living in the city for most of my life, coming here is an oasis. There are no sounds of cars, people yelling, or construction on buildings so high your neck aches to look up. Only the flit of a bird off in the distance and something wrestling in the trees can be heard. Peace. Calm. 
I came to Spear to get away from the city. It’s the complete opposite and beyond perfect. This perfection came at a steep price, though. The old owners wanted to sell, but only for their full asking price. Even with my lawyers haggling, they wouldn’t budge, which I admire. 
Seeing this place for the first time in person, it’s understandable why they didn’t want to give up this beauty. I’m not sure I ever could.
The home is large, much bigger than I truly need, but it screamed “home.” That’s what I need—a home of my own for once. Not moving from place to place, not seeing the world, but having some place steady. 
With five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a full basement, cleaning will probably be my main activity for a while. The previous owners didn’t leave the place a mess, but they did leave their stamp on each room. One that needs to be thoroughly remodeled.
Sucking in one more deep breath, I enter my home, shutting the sliding glass door behind me. Cleaning supplies and food are the top two things on the agenda. The realtor gave me a brief lay of the land after handing over my keys, stating, “Main Street has everything you need—bakery, groceries, hardware, mechanic, and a couple of restaurants and bars. Not much, but it’s enough.” Main street is where I shall go first.
The winding roads from my home into the town make me thankful that I traded in my car for a Jeep four by four. One flick of a switch, and she’s ready to tackle whatever comes her way. With the winters, I have no doubt I’ll need it. Montana doesn’t have light snow normally, and I love that.
Several people walk down the sidewalks on either side of the street, almost giving it a city feel, except there are nowhere near as many people. Their eyes follow me as I move through town, no doubt wondering who the newbie is. 
The realtor was definitely correct about the town having everything I would ever need. The grocery store looks quaint, with lit-up windows and people mingling around. Nothing like the supercenters—another great change of pace. 
The sliding glass door opens as I enter before grabbing a cart. It isn’t lost on me that, as soon as I push my cart through the second door, all eyes are on me. It doesn’t bother me. Instead, a smile spreads across my face. I’ll never know the people here if there’s a scowl on my lips. This is my fresh start. My way of leaving the hustle and bustle behind and finding my happiness.
Coasting down aisle after aisle, I get a lay of the land, giving slight nods to those who stare. It would be nice if they would say hi or something, but that goes both ways.
Smiling, I go back to the canned soups, which I hate, and get the ingredients for my homemade chicken and noodles. 
Each aisle goes by in a blur as I collect everything I’ll need for the next week or so. Some of my furniture will be delivered tomorrow, and I really want to be a house potato for a while.
I’ve introduced myself to several more people before I make it to the meat section, when my breath catches. Two mountains of men stand with their backs to me. One has inky black hair, while the other has a lighter brown. 
No sooner do I stop the cart and see them, they turn to me in unison, and that’s when my lungs become deprived of oxygen. 
Both men are gorgeous, but the one with the inky hair calls to me, with eyes that are a deep navy, looking almost black. Whoever his parents are gave him fantastic bone structure, a strong jaw, and a masculine nose. Not to mention his size that is only slightly bigger than the man next to him. The forest green, long-sleeved thermal he has on showcases each dip and valley of his muscular chest. 
This town must have a gym, because there is no way these two men look like this without working out … a lot. 
Inky man sniffs the air, and I instantly feel self-conscious, but I dismiss it just as fast. He can’t be sniffing me from that distance. 
“Hi.” I give a soft wave.
“Well, hello there,” the brown-haired man says, taking a step my way, but inky man throws out his arm, holding the other man back. 
Brown-haired man’s eyes snap to inky man. 
“Mine,” inky man growls in a deep, sexy as all hell voice. And while I feel that rumble all the way to my core, his word makes no sense.
“Pardon?” I shake my head, dismissing the comment. “Sorry, hi, I’m Iso …” I stutter, making a quick decision. New life, new name. Isobel is going to stay back in the city. “Izzy. You can call me Izzy.”
“Owen,” the man with light brown hair says with a smirk, looking between inky man and myself. 
I look to the sexy as sin male who is blatantly staring at me, not making any attempt to hide it. Something warm snakes up my body, causing me to let out a shiver. 
Damn, girl, it hasn’t been that long since you got any.
“Carter,” he states firmly and with authority. “McCavitt house?” At least he proves my assumption about it being a small town where gossip is concerned. 
“Yes.”
“You get all your stuff moved in?” This question takes me a bit off guard, because it’s not one of the normal ones I’ve been getting. How do you like it here? Where are you from? Why did you move here? Those are the normal ones. My stuff, not so much. 
“Tomorrow.”
His stance changes a bit. The once rigidness of his muscles relaxes, yet he carries himself with such authority that, if one wasn’t looking, I’m sure it would have been missed. Carter is casual, but very much on alert for some reason, making me a bit nervous. Somehow, he must sense this, because he inhales and some of that alertness disappears, setting me at ease.
“What time? My men and I will come help you.”
“That’s really nice of you, but the movers will take care of it.” Even if that is super sweet of him, there’s no way I’d accept that kind of help from a stranger. It’s too much.
“What time? We’ll be there to help,” Carter repeats, and Owen chuckles under his breath.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, instead of answering Carter.
“Nothing, Izzy. I’m just happy you came to Spear.” 
Carter takes a step forward, moving to the side of my shopping cart so he’s mere inches from me. 
It’s my turn to inhale him. The smells of wood, oak, a hint of leather, and testosterone-filled male come through loud and clear. It’s an absolutely intoxicating concoction. 
“What time?” he repeats yet again, not backing down.
“Ten.” My response comes out before I can filter it, as if he’s putting a wicked spell on me and sucking me under.
His white teeth make an appearance, and I fully admit that I’m a teeth woman. Something about when they sparkle turns me on. They don’t need to be perfectly straight. It’s just the color. 
Damn.
“We’ll be at your place at nine thirty. Do you want us to bring coffee?” A sexy glint comes to his eye.
“Really, you don’t need to—”
“I insist. We help our own.” 
“Thank you, but …” A single look from him cuts my words off. This one is different than the sexy one he gave me moments ago. This one is determined and leaves little room to no room to argue.
Carter brings his hand up and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. All I can do is feel each featherlight touch and try my damnedest to continue breathing. Then he brings his fingers to my chin and holds me in place for a moment, almost like he is inspecting me. When he releases me, it’s on a sigh.
“We must be going. We’ll see you in the morning.” 
“Ah … okay.”
Carter takes one more look at me before Owen grabs the cart and pushes it off. I note that the only thing inside of it is meat.
Ryan Michele found her passion in making fictional characters come to life. She loves being in an imaginative world where anything is possible and has a knack for special twists readers don’t see coming.
She writes MC, Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, New Adult, Inspirational, and many more romances. And whether it’s bikers, wolf shifters, mafia, or beyond, Ryan spends her time making sure her heroes are strong and her heroines match them at every turn.
When she isn’t writing, Ryan is a mom and wife living in rural Illinois and reading by her pond in the warm sun.

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